Since mid-June, the island of Tabarca has had a special surveillance operation in place, designed by the Guardia Civil to reinforce tourist safety and protect the marine reserve during the summer. Infractions committed by jet skis and illegal anchoring in protected areas of the marine reserve are the main focus of the officers’ actions, and this year the emphasis will be on preventing and combating these offences.
This was announced this morning by the head colonel of the Guardia Civil in Alicante, Francisco Poyato, who presented the security operation on the island of Tabarca together with the sub-delegate of the Government, Manuel Pineda; the councilor for Citizen Security, Julio Calero; and the head of Operations of the Guardia Civil, Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Darder.
According to Colonel Poyato, jet skis often cause quite a few problems by not respecting bathing areas, and many of them do not have the proper documentation.
The Deputy Government Delegate has asked tourists visiting the island to respect the rules and take care of Tabarca as if it were their own living room. Pineda added that it is necessary to balance the enjoyment of the island with safety and the conservation of the natural environment.
The special security operation for Tabarca 2026 will remain in place until September 15th to reinforce surveillance during the peak tourist season. The operation includes a daily presence of officers from various units of the Guardia Civil, both on land and in the island’s maritime environment.
The action seeks to improve public safety, control maritime traffic, prevent infractions and protect the environmental value of the Tabarca marine reserve.
Tabarca, belonging to the municipality of Alicante, has 65 registered inhabitants and is the only inhabited island in the Valencian Community. During the summer, it can receive around 3,000 visitors daily, a figure that can reach 5,000 people on weekends in August, according to councillor Julio Calero. This significant increase in the transient population requires reinforcing security and emergency response resources.
The operation is coordinated by the Operations Headquarters of the Alicante Command and mobilises Citizen Security units from the San Vicente del Raspeig Company, the USECIC of Alicante and Torrevieja, the Special Group of Underwater Activities, the Provincial Maritime Service and the Seprona, as explained by Lieutenant Colonel Darder.
Its functions include the prevention of crimes and administrative offences, the protection of the property of residents and visitors, emergency response, maritime traffic surveillance, control of vessel anchoring, and supervision of underwater and recreational activities.
The operation also focuses on the environmental protection of the Tabarca Marine Reserve, the first of its kind in Spain and one of the island’s main natural attractions. The Guardia Civil emphasises the importance of respecting the regulations governing anchoring, diving, and other recreational activities to preserve this protected area.
The deployment will be carried out in coordination with the Alicante City Council, the Local Police, and other administrations with jurisdiction over the maritime and environmental areas. The objective is to reconcile the tourist use of Tabarca with the safety of those who live on or visit the island and with the conservation of its natural heritage.
According to Julio Calero, the Local Police have two officers on duty daily, and from Friday to Sunday this number increases to four due to the greater presence of tourists.
The Guardia Civil recommends that those travelling to Tabarca plan their day in advance, bring enough water and sun protection, locate the security and health assistance points upon arrival, keep their personal belongings under surveillance, and follow the instructions of the deployed personnel and information panels.
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